Australian woman who wound up in Alabama’s Wiregrass becomes TikTok star

Jim Zeigler

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September 18, 2025

It’s a long way from the Outback of Australia to the Wiregrass of Alabama. That is the life journey so far of Amanda Shenton.

She was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia and came to the U.S. in 2013. She bought a tiny camper and went on her own tour of her new country. An unguided tour. She didn’t make it far. She got to Alabama’s Wiregrass and stayed.

What Shenton did when she settled into Headland, Alabama – in the extreme east of Alabama’s Wiregrass, almost in Georgia, almost in Florida – is a most unlikely story. And it appears that it wasn’t planned. It simply “evolved.”

You can tell when someone is hitting celebrity status. Multiple places are laying claim to her — Dothan, Headland, Enterprise, and the Wiregrass as a whole.

Shenton decided to make a video on the popular and sometimes controversial social media site TikTok. She launched her account, gdayfromtheusa. That link says it all. “Gday” is the popular Australian greeting. “From the USA” tell what and where this video account is about.

Shenton is herself the star of her videos. She started posting videos of herself pronouncing certain American words, mostly Alabama words and places, in her Australian accent. She quickly went from attracting a few thousand views to hundreds of thousands of viewers flocking to her page.

To the series of Aussie pronunciation of all things Alabama, she added a series on Alabama places, mostly local cafes. Then, she added food reviews.

The content has been good enough to attract 75.7 thousand followers and 1.6 million likes. That is an audience. An audience focused on her adventures in Alabama.

150 years ago, Mark Twain produced “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” Now, Amanda Shenton has produced what could be called “An Australian Woman Camping in Alabama’s Wiregrass.”

She’s a TikTok sensation but still lives in her camper.

Maybe some Internet marketer will discover her and work with her to monetize the account – ads and sponsors.

Becoming an internet star is something she is still coming to terms with. Even with all of her newfound recognition, Shenton says she truly doesn’t care for it. She derives all her enjoyment from the experience of meeting new people — and giving recognition to others who deserve it. Shenton also believes eating and shopping local is Vital.

“I really enjoy small businesses more. I couldn’t tell you the last time I went to McDonald’s, or any chain restaurant; I prefer local places. It’s not always about the food for me, it’s about interacting with people.”

Shenton says,looking back, she’s glad she made that huge leap of faith and wants to thank the people of the Wiregrass for making her feel welcome — and finding her new forever home.

You can find Shenton’s TikTok account, gdayfromtheusa, here.

Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected]